OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) will begin accepting applications in August for grants to provide outdoor education and recreation programs for kids and to build and maintain trails, boating facilities and shooting ranges.
RCO is offering free, online workshops to showcase these grant opportunities and explain application requirements. The grants are the largest source of state funding for many of these outdoor recreation experiences and will not be offered again until 2026.
“We know that spending time outside provides so many benefits, such as easing stress, improving mental and physical health and increasing children’s academic performance,” said Megan Duffy, RCO’s director. “These grants pay for dozens of projects that will give kids and adults the opportunity to spend time outside and improve their overall health as a result. Creating new and improving existing recreational spaces is vital to the health of our citizens and our economy.”
A recent RCO study showed that people spend more than $26 billion on outdoor recreation trips and equipment in Washington annually, supporting 264,000 jobs.
RCO will accept grant proposals for the following types of projects:
· Boating–Buy land and develop and renovate facilities for motorized boats and other watercraft, including launching ramps, guest moorage and support facilities. Register for the Aug. 1 webinar.
· Trails–Develop, rehabilitate and maintain trails that provide a backcountry experience. Funding also may be used for education and enforcement programs that encourage environmentally responsible use of the trails and help minimize conflict between visitors. Register for the Aug. 1 webinar. More information is online at Non-highway and Off-road Vehicle trails, Non-highway and Off-road Vehicle trails education grants and Recreational Trails Program.
· Firearm and archery ranges–Buy land and develop and renovate firearm ranges and archery training and practice facilities. Register for the Aug. 1 webinar.
· Outdoor Learning for Kids–The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s No Child Left Inside program offers grants for outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural or other natural resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth through the age of 18 or those enrolled in high school or General Education Development (GED) programs. Register for the Aug. 8 webinar.